Chime signal device



7, 1956 M. ROSEMAN CHIMEZ SIGNAL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18,1954 INVENTOR.

MICHAEL ROSEMAN United States Patent:

CHIME SIGNAL DEVICE Michael Roseman, New York, N. 1.

Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,690

11 Claims. (Cl. 116-141) This invention relates to a signal device andmore particularly to a signal device designed to produce a musical chimeof one or more musical notes by means of a mechanical constructionwhich, when operated, produces a pleasing tone.

Many chime signals are presently in use, but are subject to frequentfailure as they rely mainly on two springs under tension at all times.Since these springs are subject to fatigue, frequent repair of thedevices are necessary. The instant invention avoids this type ofconstruction and provides a device that is seldom in need of repair.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a door chime that iscapable of producing the desired signals and is not subject tomechanical failure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal device whichmaintains the chime producing member in pivoted position without relyingon a tension spring to move the chime producing member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device that isadjustable so that the door chime of the invention can be fitted to apanel of any reasonable width.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a durable structure,inexpensive in manufacture and pleasing in appearance.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the signal device of the inventionmounted on a wooden panel.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the signal device of the invention withthe cover removed and showing the striker in the first position afterthe button has been pushed.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the strikerin the second position after the button has been released.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the signal device.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the signal device.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the pivot construction for the shaker.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the pivot block and pivot illustrated inFig. 7.

Referring to Fig. l of the invention, the chime is designated generallyby numeral 1t] and discloses the signal device mounted on a frame 12,the cover 14 thereof hiding the mechanical parts to present a devicepleasing in construction. Apertures 16, in the side walls of the cover,are opposite the internal sounding members, and

thus serves to function as a resonance medium to improve the soundprovided by the sounding members.

Figs. 2 to 6 illustrate the construction of the invention in assembly. Apair of sounding leaves or elements 18 and 20 are provided adjacent eachlongitudinal edge of backing plate 22 in spaced relation therefrom, bymeans of mounting brackets 24. The horizontal leg 26 of each bracket 24is secured to the base plate with the vertical leg 28 mounting thesounding members by means of crimping lugs 30. A grommet 32, of anyresilient material, contains a central groove upon which the soundingelement fits, grommet 32 extending through a suitable aperture 36 in thesounding member for such purpose. Member 20 is slightly longer thanmember 18 and thus sounds of different pitch are produced when thestriker construction 38 alternately strikes each sounding leaf. Whilethe leaves are preferably made of metal, it is obvious that any materialcapable of producing chime notes of different pitch when vibrated, isequally applicable.

The sound means is designated generally at 33 and is mounted on backingplate 22. Striker hammer 4% consists of a fiat plate 42 and isaperture-d at 44 adjacent the upper end (see Fig. 7) to pivot on pin 46extending from pivot block 48. Hammer 46 is provided with a laterallyextended cross-piece 5G. Cross-piece Si) is arcuately bent at the freeends thereof at 52. and S4- and represents the actual contact means forresonance leaves 18 and 20, rwpectively. A tension spring 56 iscooperatively engaged with hammer 4t) and is secured to one of bracketmembers 24, as is illustrated in the figures, to maintain the strikingmember in the inoperative position (see Fig. 3) when the bell is notbeing rung.

As is more clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, the means to mounthammer 40 and to retain it for pivoted movement when the device is inoperation consists of the aforesaid pivot block 48, pivot pin 53,elongated channel housing 60 and hammer 4i). Pivot block 48 mountsstriker hammer 4i) and is of substantial thickness to allow the hammermember to clear the structure below it secured to the base plate. Block43 includes a medial aperture 62 of substantial diameter to admit athreaded pivot pin 64, about which it pivots. Since hammer plate 42rests on block 48, pin 64 also extends through an aperture 66 alignedwith aperture 62 and is threaded into base member 22. Pin 64 includes aheaded free end 68 adapted to permit screw threading into the basemember and also serving to prevent block 48 and hammer 49 from beingdisplaced.

Block member 48 is enlarged at the end opposite pivot pin 46 andincludes a crescent-shaped cut-out section 7-9. Pivot pin 58 is T-shapedwith the head or cross-piece 72 flat in construction and freely receivedwithin the crescent-shaped cutout section 70 of block member 48. Theextended leg, or stem 74 of cross-piece 72 extends beyond the pivotblock member 48. Pivot pin 58 is kept within cut-out section 70 of thepivot block member by means of hollow tube 76. Stem '74 is receivedwithin passageway 78, with coil spring 3%) thereon urging cross-piece 72within the recess of crescent-shaped cut-- out 70. Both stem 74 and tube'76 are rectangular in cross-section to prevent rotation. An aperture82, extending through tube 76, receives bolt 84 to pivotally secure thetube to the base plate. Shims or washers 36 are provided, if necessary,to maintain tube 76 free for pivoted movement.

The actuating mechanism is operatively connected with pin 46, as willshortly be explained, to move striker means 50 in two directions toproduce the resonance tones of the chime signal. As is most clearlyshown in Fig. 6, a push button 88 is fixed on one end of an adjustablelever 90 extending through an opening in door 12 and.

in alignment with a similar opening 92 in plate 22. Lever 90 contains aplurality of adjacent holes 94 adapted to lie over a U-shaped actuatingmember 96. A short, vertically projecting lug 98 extends from theconnecting arm 1% and extends through a selected hole 9-4. A flange 102extends from one end of arm 100 and is pivotally secured at M4 to anL-shaped bracket member 106. The depending portion of bracket 1% isfixed on plate 22 by any suitable means, such as bolts 108. The arm 110of U-shaped member 96 adjacent flange MP2 is adapted to urge operatingassembly 112 against the force of spring 56, whereby the leaf members 18and are struck.

Operating assembly 112 comprises a flat metal strip 114 having antip-struck flange lllb at one end against which arm iii rests, and anelongated depending lever 118, the bent free end 120 providing a cradlefor pivot pin 46. Spring 56 is secured in a suitable aperture on lever118. Since operating assembly 112 must also pivot, a pair of dependinglugs 122 extend from metal strip TM in parallel spaced relation, as isshown in Fig. 6, and receive therethrough a pivot rod 124 threadedthrough sleeve E26 and through base plate 22. Thus, levers 114 and 118together form a bell-crank lever.

The operation of the device is readily apparent. To actuate the chime,button 83 is pressed forward causing lever 90 to move forward. Thispivots actuating member Q6 about pivot point 104, causing arm 110 tourge flange member 116 towards the left. This requires operatingassembly 112 to pivot on pin 1Z4, causing lever 118 to move towards theright. Pin 46 is carried along by this movement, urging pivot blockmember towards the left, enabling hammer 50 to strike leaf 18. Whenbutton 88 is released, the entire device returns to the inactiveposition illustrated in Fig. 3, enabling hammer 50 to strike leaf 20.Since each leaf is of different resonance, a two-note chime is produced.T-shaped pivot member 58 passes its center line in each direction andurges pivot block 48 towards each musical leaf. Member 58 is retained inopening 70 at all times by means of spring 80 and channel member 76.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that i do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent l. A chime signal devicecomprising, a pair of spaced sounding leaf members, means supportingsaid members, a striker hammer adapted to alternately strike each leafmember, a pivot block assembly secured to said hammer for pivotedmovement, an operating assembly pivotally engaging said pivot blockassembly, and an actuating mechanism engaging said operating assembly toproduce the chime signal, said pivot block assembly including acrescent-shaped opening, pivot means freely received in said opening,and a pivot pin extending through said striker hammer and engaged bysaid operating assembly.

2. A chime signal device comprising, a pair of spaced sounding leafmembers, means supporting said members, a striker hammer adapted toalternately strike each leaf member, a pivot block assembly secured tosaid hammer for pivoted movement, an operating assembly pivotallyengaging said pivot block assembly, and an actuating mechanism engagingsaid operating assembly to produce the chime signal, said pivot blockassembly including a crescent-shaped opening, pivot means freelyreceived in said opening, and a pivot pin extending through said strikerhammer and engaged by said operating assembly, said pivot meanscomprising a T-shaped member, the

cross-piece thereof being received in said crescent-shaped opening.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said T-shaped member includes astem and a hollow tube pivotally secured, said hollow tube receiving thestem.

4. A chime signal device comprising, a pair of spaced sounding leafmembers, means supporting said members, a striker hammer adapted toalternately strike each leaf member, a pivot block assembly secured tosaid hammer for pivoted movement, an operating assembly pivotallyengaging said pivot block assembly, and an actuating mechanism engagingsaid operating assembly to produce the chime signal, said pivot blockassembly including a crescent-shaped opening, pivot means freelyreceived in said opening, and a pivot pin extending through said strikerhammer and engaged by said operating assembly, said operating assemblyincluding a horizontal lever, means on said lever engaging saidactuating mechanism, and means on said lever retained on said pivot pinto move the hammer.

5. A chime signal device comprising, a pair of spaced sounding leafmembers, means supporting said members. a striker hammer adapted toalternately strike each leaf member, a pivot block assembly secured tosaid hammer for pivoted movement, an operating assembly pivotallyengaging said pivot block assembly, and an actuating mechanism engagingsaid operating assembly to produce the chime signal, said pivot blockassembly including a crescent-shaped opening, pivot means freelyreceived in 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said actuatingengaging means comprises a vertical flange.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said horizontal lever includesdepending lugs and pivot means extending through said lugs to enable theoperating assembly to rotate.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein tension means is secured to saiddepending lever and to said leaf member to urge the signal device intoinoperative position.

9. A chime signal device comprising, a pair of spaced sounding leafmembers, means supporting said members, a striker hammer adapted toalternately strike each leaf member, a pivot block assembly secured tosaid hammer for pivoted movement, an operating assembly pivotallyengaging said pivot block assembly, and an actuating mechanism engagingsaid operating assembly to produce the chime signal, said pivot blockassembly including a crescent-shaped opening, pivot means freelyreceived in said opening, and a pivot pin extending through said strikerhammer and engaged by said operating assembly,

' said actuating mechanism comprising an apertured lever,

a U-shaped actuating member, means on said member received in a selectedaperture, said U-shaped member engaging said operating means, and meansto move said apertured lever.

10. A chime signal device comprising, a pair of spaced sounding leafmembers, means supporting said members, a striker hammer adapted toalternately strike each leaf member, a pivot block assembly secured tosaid hammer for pivoted movement, an operating assembly pivotallyengaging said pivot block assembly, and an actuating mechanism engagingsaid operating assembly to produce the chime signal, said pivot blockassembly including a crescent-shaped opening, pivot means freelyreceived in said opening, a pivot pin extending through said strikerhammer and engaged by said operating assembly, said actuating mechanismcomprising an apertured lever, a U-shaped actuating member, means onsaid member received in a selected aperture, said U-shaped memberengaging said operating means, means to move said apertured lever, saidU-shaped member including a flange, and means pivotally securing saidflange to the device for pivoted movement.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said operating mechanismcomprises a bell-crank lever, said lastnamed lever engaging saidU-shaped actuating member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

